Design Lead

At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence.

We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go.​

Join EY and help build a better working world.

Title: Design Lead

Level: Level 2b/Assistant Manager

Location: Dublin

Role: Hybrid

Contract Type: 12-month FTC (maternity leave cover)

Team and Opportunity

EY’s in-house creative team is a dynamic collective of multidisciplinary talent.  From concept to execution, we bring together experts in graphic design, motion, photography, videography and studio production.  Agility and collaboration are at our core, working across disciplines to ensure every project aligns with business goals while pushing creative boundaries. Whether launching campaigns, designing visual identities, or producing engaging content, our team turns vision into reality with precision, passion, and purpose.

The Design Lead role is hands-on that blends strategic thinking, creative direction, project execution, team leadership and mentorship.  They help push the brand forward creatively whilst protecting its integrity, constantly thinking of new and innovative solutions. They are responsible for driving visual excellence across all brand touchpoints.

A normal day for the Design Lead involves leading, creating and developing creative concepts/visual identities for key campaigns and guiding stakeholders on the best solution to the problems. They mentor designers, collaborating cross-team and help shape the design culture within the team. They ensure all design work aligns with the brand’s visual identity and business goals. They work collaboratively with the Creative Manager, operations, the design, motion, video and photography and studio teams.

Key responsibilities

• Lead concepting and execution of design projects across digital, print, social media, and online content
• Work closely with and report to the Creative Manager
• Work in collaboration and alongside their peer Design Lead
• Guide and support a team of designers, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, providing constructive feedback, and ensuring high standards of design and innovation
• Translate complex briefs into clear, creative solutions aligned with business objectives
• Bring fresh perspectives to challenges, using design thinking and data-informed insights to elevate creative solutions
• Lead creative briefs to get to the bottom on our stakeholders’ problems guiding them guiding on the best solutions to their visual communications problems 
• Manage multiple projects from brief to delivery, balancing creativity, speed, and quality ensuring timelines and expectations are met
• Point of escalation for issues around visual and art direction
• Point of escalation for stakeholder direction / management and team performance 
• Lead the design team onboarding process (in consultation with the Creative Function Lead, Creative and Operations Managers)
• Provide cover for the Creative Manager during planned /unplanned absence including line manager cover path responsibilities
• Second chair with Creative Manager on complex and strategic projects and/or contribute to strategic go-to-market and complex projects
• Maintain awareness of industry trends and technologies and bring new ideas to the team, or champion them from less experienced members
• Position oneself as an EY brand and visual identity expert
• Display leadership and business acumen by anticipating client and project needs 
• Where required, support Operations ensuring resources are effectively assigned
• Assist the Creative Manager with recruitment process as required
• Advise and work with leadership informing training needs across the design team
• A career counsellor providing coaching and performance feedback
• Attend, contribute and when appropriate team meetings
• Adherence to the Creative Team’s workflow management and operational processes

Technical Abilities and Skills

• 6-8+years of professional design experiences including at least 2-3 years in a leadership or lead designer role
• A strong portfolio of conceptual campaign work across multiple disciplines with examples of Ai related project work
• Excellent skills in Adobe CC applications
• Strong motion design skills with expert knowledge of Adobe After Effects
• Experience leveraging AI-powered creative tools such as Adobe Firefly to generate campaign assets and creative concepts with the ability to lead in this area
• Proven track record of delivery high-quality designs across multiple platforms
• Strategic conceptual thinker with the ability to develop ideas across multiple touch points, such as events and digital
• Excellent communication, presentation and storytelling skills
• Ability to coach and mentor others
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
• Analytical and insightful attention to detail
• Works without supervision
• Organised and efficient multitasker
• Able to handle pressures of multiple deadlines driven projects and respond calmly to shift priorities
• Ability and willingness to get suck in and get hands when the team needs support
• People-person with excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work strategically and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in Figma for UI/UX design, wireframing, prototyping, design system management, and collaborative design workflows beneficial

What working at EY offers 

We offer a competitive remuneration package. Our comprehensive benefits package includes support for flexible working and career development, and with FlexEY you can select benefits that suit your needs: covering holidays, health and well-being, insurance, savings and a wide range of discounts, offers and promotions. Plus, we offer: 

• Support and coaching from some of the most engaging colleagues around. 

• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career. 

• The freedom and flexibility to handle your role in a way that’s right for you. 

All our employees are given a benefits package which they can tailor to suit their individual preferences. Our range of benefits include: 

• Pension
• Discounted health insurance
• Web Doctor – Free unlimited online GP consultations for you and your family

• The purchase of additional annual leave
• Hybrid Working
• Free Gym membership
• Travel Pass
• Maternity & Paternity leave
• Bike to work Scheme
• Recognition Awards
• Cash incentives for referrals
• Work Mobile
• Tech MBA paid by EY
• Wellness rooms available in some offices

EY is committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We strive to achieve the right balance for our people, enabling us to deliver excellent client service whilst allowing you to build your career without sacrificing your personal priorities. While our client-facing professionals can be required to travel regularly, and at times be based at client sites, our flexible working arrangements can help you to achieve a lifestyle balance. 

Career Progression 

• When you join EY, you will be supported to ensure that you are enhancing your skills from day one. 

• Continuous learning, where you can develop the mindset and skills to navigate whatever comes next. 

• As you grow and develop here, you’ll discover opportunities to help customise your career journey, so that it’s as unique as you are - success is defined by you, we will provide the tools and flexibility, so you can make a meaningful impact, your way. 

• Transformative leadership, we will give you the insights, coaching and confidence to be the leader the world needs. 
• Diverse and inclusive culture, you will be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs. 
• We have embraced Hybrid working at EY adding greater flexibility and autonomy to the roles of our employees. 

About EY

As a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, we’re using the finance products, expertise and systems we’ve developed to build a better working world. That starts with a culture that believes in giving you the training, opportunities and creative freedom to make things better. Whenever you join, however long you stay, the exceptional EY experience lasts a lifetime.

Inclusion & Diversity 

We hold a collective commitment to foster an environment where all differences are valued and respected, practices are equitable and everyone experiences a sense of belonging: Inclusion, diversity, and equity are part of who we are at EY. We believe that the highest-performing teams maximize the power of different perspectives and backgrounds. These teams are both diverse and inclusive and are willing to invite and learn from other perspectives. Our ability to include various viewpoints into our mindsets, behaviours and operations is fundamental to driving innovation, building strong relationships, and delivering the best solutions for our clients. 

We recognise the strength that comes from having a diverse workforce and building a culture where we support all our people to achieve their potential. You’ll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.

As an equal opportunities’ employer, we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Reasonable accommodations are offered at every stage of our recruitment process. 

Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today.

To help create the best experience during the recruitment process, please describe any disability-related adjustments or accommodations you may need.

If you can confidently demonstrate that you meet the criteria above, please contact us as soon as possible. 

IMPORTANT: Where Agency assistance is required, our Talent Team will engage directly with suppliers. CVs / Profiles should not be shared directly with Hiring Managers. Unsolicited CVs / Profiles supplied to EY by Recruitment Agencies will not be accepted for this role. 

EY | Building a better working world

EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.

Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.

EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.